Fuse-box.



No..682,|22. Patented Sept. 3, 1901.

E. A. WILSON.

FUSE BOX.

(Applicntion filed Sept 11, 1900.)

(No Model.)

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wvmtoz WWW) ZZMJV W707? WY m (7/6 W MW S No. 682,I22. Patented Sept. 3, I90I.

E. A. WILSON.

FUSE BOX.

(Applicstion am Sept 11, 1900,

(No Model.) 2 Shoots-Shoat 2.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ELMER A. WILSON, OF NILES, OHIO.

FUSE-BOX.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 682,122, datedSeptember 3, 1901.

Application filed September 11, 1900. Serial No. 29,725. (No model.)

T0 (0 whom it may concern.-

Be itknown thatI, ELMER A.WILsoN,a citi zen of the United States, residing at Niles, in the county of Trumbull and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fuse-Boxes; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to certain improvements in cut-outs or fuse-boxes generally, more especially to the class of mechanical circuit-breakers as distinguished from magnetic circuit-breakers wherein the break is caused by the lifting power or action of a solenoid.

It has for its aim, among other things, to obviate the contacts becoming loose upon the fuse carrying or bearing terminals of the transmitting-levers, to provide in event of the short-circuiting of the current for quickly parting or separating the fuse and the lengthening of the air-gap, to prevent any arcing, to secure the automatic cutting into circuit of the auxiliary fuse after the breaking of the circuit, to provide for continuity of service, and to insure perfect or increased surface of contact between the parts, especially between the posts bearing the fuse carrying or hearing terminals, (to.

To these ends the invention, generally stated, consists of fuse connecting or carrying levers adapted to automatically engage, in event of the breaking of the circuit, contacts of a supplemental or auxiliary fuse and in certain details of construction and arrangement of the parts, all substantially as hereinafter more fully disclosed, and specifically pointed out by the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating the preferred embodiment of my invention, Figure 1 is a plan view thereof in duplicate with an auxiliary or supplemental fuse of one of these in circuit, the main-line fuse being cut out. Fig. 2 is a side view. Fig. 3 is an end elevation. Fig. 4 is an enlarged vertical section taken through one of the trans mitting-levers and its posts or fulcrum, &c. Fig. 5 is a cross-section taken through Fig. 1.

Latitude is allowed herein as to details, as

they may be changed or varied at will without departing from the spirit of my invention and the same yet remain intact and be protected.

In carrying out my invention I provide a base 1 and a cover 2 for the instrument of any insulating material, said cover having formed centrally thereof in its under side a groove 2, guarded by pendent bosses 2 depending from the lower side of said cover. This cover is suitably held in place by a nutted screw-bolt 3, passing therethrough and through a partition 4, also of insulating material, preferably resting in a groove in said base 1 and the groove 2 in said cover. A series or duplicate series of levers 5 are arranged, preferably, one series laterally with relation to each side of the partition or bar rier at, said levers each being pivoted or mounted upon a post 6, with its lower end preferably fixed to or integral with a plate secured to the base 1. The levers each have a screw-threaded connection with its post or fulcrum, both the lever and post being cut with a screw-thread, as shown at 7 7 respectively, to provide for a more intimate contact therebetween than has heretofore been possible or obtainable,renderin g a perfect and effective contacting surface. The levers are actuated by springs 8, preferably supported in position upon the post 6, each with one end secured or connected to a post-plate and the other end connected to the lever. It will be observed that incidentally by the expansive force of the springs 8 or their tendency to elongate the respective screw-threads of the levers 5 and the fulcra or parts 6 are caused to more closely impinge upon the each other. It will be noted that the washers 9, provided to prevent the possible displacement of the levers, are held upon the upper ends of the posts by headed screws 9, passed through the washers and into the posts, with the levers removed therefrom to cause the levers to avoid possible contact with said washers and allow said levers to swing or move freely upon their posts or fulcrums. These levers 5 are each provided at one end with a lug or terminal 5 for the attachment thereto of the fuse 10, one for each two levers. Said terminals may be either what are termed a screw-terminal or clutch-terminal or any other suitable or practical way of applying the fuses may be adopted, or the fuses themselves may be links, or what is known as wire fuses. The break in the circuit in the use of this arrangement is so quick that the arcing is reduced to the minimum or a degree of safety. The levers 5 are each provided at its opposite end with a lateral pendent contact 11, preferably attached thereto by a screw, or it may be a fixture, or integral with the lever.

Upon the base 1 are suitably disposed with relation to the contacts 11 11 additional con tacts 12 12, to which is connected the auxiliary fuse 12, duplicated for each pair of the transmitting-levers with their fuses. These latter contacts 12 12 are each preferably in the form of a single plate doubled upon itself, with the upstanding central portion 12 thus formed facing in the arc of the circle which would be described by the movement of the lever in the event of the cutting out of the principal or primary fuse. Said upstanding portion of each auxiliary-fuse contact has the lower ends of its doubled-up portions preferably extended horizontally in opposite directions to provide for readily aiding the securing thereof in place upon the base 1, as will be readily understood.

Upon the upper surface or top of the cover 2 are lugs 14:, one at each corner, say, to provide for having the fuses conveniently near by in an emergency and to provide for the ready formation of loops upon the fuses preparatory to the attachment thereof to the terminals of the levers aforesaid.

It will be observed that the action of bringing the auxiliary fuses into requisition is effected automatically in event of the cutting out of the primary fuse or a short circuit, thus preserving continuity of the service. Preparatory to slipping or placing the fuses upon the lever contact-terminals plugs 15 may be employed to provide for suitably holding the lever so as to not require the straining of the fuse in so placing it, holes 16 being made in the base 1 to receive and properly dispose said plugs with relation to said levers, as will be readily appreciated.

Having thus fullydescribed my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure byLet-ters Patent, is

1. In a circuit-breaker of the character described, a series or pair of spring-actuated levers having contact-terminals, a fuse connected to said terminals, in combination with an auxiliary fuse having its contacts facing in the plane of movement which would be de scribed by said levers in event of a short cir- 3. In a circuit-breaker of the character de-' I scribed, a series or pair of spring-actuated levers having contact-terminals, a fuse connected to said contact-terminals, posts or ful crums having screw-threaded connection with said levers, and an auxiliary fuse, with its contacts arranged in the path of the movement of said leve'rs, substantially as set forth.

4. In a circuit-breaker of the character described, a series or pair of spring-actuated levers bearing contact-terminals, a primary fuse connected to said terminals, an auxiliary fuse with its contacts arranged in the path of the movement of said levers, and the pendent lateral contacts applied to said levers and adapted to engage the contacts of said auxiliary fuse, substantially as set forth.

5. In acircuit-breaker of the character described, a series or pair of spring-actuated levers having contact-terminals, a fuse connected to said terminals, pendent lateral contact-points applied to said levers, an auxiliary fuse with its contacts facing in the path of the movement of said levers, and a base having plug-receiving holes or sockets, the plugs adapted to suitably hold said levers preparatory to placing the primary fuse upon said terminals, substantially as described.

6. In a circuit-breaker of the character described, a series or pair of spring-actuated levers having contact-terminals, with a fuse connected thereto, an auxiliary fuse, with contacts adapted to engage contacts of said levers, a base, and a cover having a pendent partition engaging said base and having fusereceiving lugs arranged upon its top or upper surface, substantially as set forth.

7. In a circuit-breaker of the character described, a series or pair of levers having contact terminals, screw threaded fulcra and screwthreaded openings, and springs arranged upon said f ulcra and adapted to cause the respective screw-threads of said fulcra and openings, to more closely impinge upon each other, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ELMER A. WILSON.

Witnesses:

EDGAR 1. WILSON, O. S. MOCARTY.

ICC 

